Speaking can be scary, nerve racking at first, and even frightening. Eventually, anybody can give a good speech -and even a great speech. I assure you with experience and practice and, possibly, some good speech coaching, the day will come when speaking is as easy and as pleasurable as singing in the shower.

You’ll find eight important reasons in this article to start speaking to promote your business: http://www.attractclientswithease.com/articles/speakandsucceed.htm

Join us June 16th and 17th for the Sought After Speaker Two-Day Summit and make your business thrive. http://soughtafterspeaker.com/

Are You Ready to be A Sought After Speaker?

This is THE Summit for ambitious entrepreneurs, coaches, consultants, and anyone who wants to be louder and prouder about the value they bring!

Top Ten Reasons to become a Sought After Speaker:

#1 Establishes you and your firm as the expert

#2 Increases awareness and visibility for you and your firm

#3 Extends your reach to new people and new places

#4 Solidifies your brand

#5 Increases your credibility and improves your reputation

#6 Creates lots of good feeling, good-will, and influence

#7 Provides an opportunity for your firm to get in front of people for both first and/or repeat engagements

#8 Provides unmatched networking opportunities

#9 Offers the best kind of list building

#10 Significantly increases revenue quickly and with little investment

#11 Allows you present a first, small, easy buying decision to get a new, long-term customer on board

#12 includes fantastic perks like exotic travel and lots of free product

Join us June 16th and 17th for the Sought After Speaker Two-Day Summit and make your business thrive. http://soughtafterspeaker.com/

Last week, we introduced the topic about how to Get the Word Out to Grow Your Business.  For more information on this important marketing strategy, listen to me live in this free tele-class: Getting the Word Out to Grow Your Business at http://www.attractclientswithease.com/teleclasses/GettheWordOut.mp3

It’s not too late to check out the Business Breakthrough Summit, coming up May 19^th & 20^th in the San Francisco Bay Area. You can find details here: http://bizbreakthrough.com/

Next week I’ll be traveling to Phoenix! I am super excited to present this interactive workshop presented by the Phoenix Business Journal!  This program is suited for both novice and seasoned networkers. You’ll leave the workshop with the networking skills you need to find jobs, win new clients and build your sphere of influence.

Apply strategies to go from “just a contact” to a person of influence with your connections

For more info, go to: http://www.bizjournals.com/phoenix/event/66581

One of the often over looked marketing strategies, that can result in a flood of new business, is getting free publicity. The challenge to free publicity is that whether or not a story gets published or you get invited as a television or radio guest, it is out of your control, so you can often do a lot and take a lot of time to make something happen and nothing does.

There are, however, lots of things you can do that increase your chances of getting noticed. Follow the great ideas in this article to ensure that you get good results every time from your efforts. http://www.attractclientswithease.com/articles/getthewordout.htm

It’s not too late to check out the Business Breakthrough Summit, coming up May 19^th & 20^th in the San Francisco Bay Area. You can find details here: http://bizbreakthrough.com/

Last week, we began a discussion on how to increase our revenue.  Another excellent way to increase your revenue is through writing. That’s right, through writing. Most entrepreneurs don’t have the luxury of a large advertising budget, so we have to think of other ways to show off our great work. We all know that no matter how good your product or service is, no one can utilize it if they do not know it exists.

The answer is simple: All you have to do is sit down and write. Writing is very valuable because people keep articles, newsletters and cards with “10 Ways to…” while they will immediately throw out flyers, brochures and glossy direct-mail pieces. People keep valuable information; you will be called on by clients’ weeks, months or even years later because they still have an article you wrote. Write about the topics and issues that answer the challenges your potential clients are addressing, and watch your phone begin to ring.

There are two other reasons to write. The first is that providing people with helpful information is a way of giving people something for nothing. This creates a good feeling about your business among the people who read your information. Also, by sharing your expertise in writing, you are establishing yourself and your company as an expert. Everyone wants to work with someone they know is an expert at what they do.

Follow these ideas to get your ideas down on paper and watch your profits go up: http://www.attractclientswithease.com/articles/revenue.htm

It’s not too late to check out the Business Breakthrough Summit, coming up May 19^th & 20^th in the San Francisco Bay Area. You can find details here: http://bizbreakthrough.com/

That that is one of the elements to success we will be working on at the Networking 2.0 from Contacts to Contracts, an interactive workshop presented by the Phoenix Business Journal and led by me, Caterina Rando!  This program is suited for sales people in all industries, novice networkers and seasoned veterans who want to UP their game. You’ll leave the workshop with the networking skills you need to find the right job, recruit top employees, win those much needed new clients and even how to network to find new investors.

During this 3-hour workshop, you’ll learn how to be loud and proud about who you are and the value you bring, as well as how to:

• Introduce yourself in a way that captures people’s attention to immediately engage them
• Create rapport quickly and begin meaningful conversations
• Become a resource for referrals to keep your business on other people’s mind
• Develop a networking plan that meets your goals and objectives
• Utilize simple, fast flow up techniques that build relationship online and offline
• Apply strategies to go from “just a contact” to a person of influence with your connections

For more info, go to: http://www.bizjournals.com/phoenix/event/66581 The event is May 10^th, so if you are in Phoenix, jump on this one! Early bird is $110, ends May 3, 2012, then the price jumps to $162!

When I first went into real estate 20+ years ago my friends and family told me how great they thought I would be, so it was to my surprise how poorly I performed at the sales conversation when confronted with an objection.  I stammered and backed away.  Dejected, I would return to the real estate office and tell my tale of woe to the sales manager. He would say, why didn’t you say this?  When he said it like that, it sounded so simple.  I then made a decision to take him out on all of my presentation calls, knowing I would have to split my commission with him, I decided it was worth it to gain from his expertise.  I became a fast study and was was selling 4 houses a month within 6 months.  So I know how you feel.  I have been there.  You can learn the answers to the most stubborn objections with the right mentor and the right tools.

REMEMBER an objection rarely means a no.  So why do people object?  As a means of protection.  And why do people need protection?  It’s no secret that there are many reasons.  They may feel out of their realm of comfort, feel they haven’t been given enough information, afraid they are going to be taken advantage of, afraid of making a mistake, maybe uncomfortable with the surroundings or the coach etc.  Your job is to make them comfortable through persuasion which I discuss in my book.

Let’s do an objection.  “Send me the information, I’m busy”

“No problem, (Insert Name), I will be happy to do that even as we speak, but let me ask you, if I may, are increased clients of interest to you?”   See how I caught the prospect off guard?  Of course increased clients are of interest.  This will now open up the conversation. I also used the person’s name, essential tip number one. Always use the person’s name.

This one is just the tip of the iceberg.  I would be happy to help you with more at www.evolvingadvisors.com/products/ebook/ with a bonus for a courtesy consultation to help you naturally construct answers to the most stubborn objections you’ll ever hear.  I hope you enjoyed today’s blog post.

Sarah Jo Wood is founder of Evolving Advisors Inc. and author of ‘How to turn a No or a Maybe into a Yes!”  Her coaching program teaches entrepreneurs like you to overcome objections so you can sign up all the clients you want, fill your practice, and increase your bottom line.  To begin supercharging your sales, download your complimentary free giveaway today at www.evolvingadvisors.com.

You have two options to attend! I’ll be in Corta Madera on April 25^th from 6pm-9pm, and in Sacramento on April 26^th from 6pm-9pm. You can find more information and register at: http://timetothriveprogram.com/

I can’t wait to see you there!